(Posted 02nd November 2023)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Microsoft plans to invest more in Africa’s AI-revolution
Innovation Village
Lillian Barnard, President of Microsoft Africa, delivering a keynote presentation yesterday at Microsoft’s AI, A New Era event in Johannesburg highlighted that Microsoft is ramping up investments in the next wave of Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) evolution, to support businesses to solve a myriad of challenges and unlock new opportunities… Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
U.S. to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from trade program
Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intends to end the participation of Gabon, Niger, Uganda and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. Biden said he was taking the step because of “gross violations” of internationally recognized human rights by the Central African Republic and Uganda… Read More>>
Deputy Secretary Graves to Help Lead Mission to South Africa, Participating in the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves will travel to South Africa to participate in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum’s two-day Ministerial meeting and co-host the event’s robust one-day Private Sector Forum, in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 2-4, 2023. He will meet senior government officials from a number of partner countries, including South Africa, to strengthen commercial relations with the U.S. He will be joined by members of the President Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa… Read More>>
Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative, To Attend 20th U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Johannesburg
Today News Africa
The Office of the United States Trade Representative has confirmed that Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, will be embarking on a significant journey to Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 31, 2023, to November 4, 2023. Her visit is in connection with the 20th U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation (AGOA) Forum… Read More>>
U.S. trade chief Tai set to travel to South Africa for AGOA Forum
Engineering News
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to South Africa from October 31 to November 4, during which she will co-chair the twentieth Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum, which is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on November 3 and 4… Read More>>
Senator Coons, Scott, colleagues call on Senate to prioritize reauthorizing legislation to expand economic opportunities in Africa
Chris Coons
U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) led 11 of their Senate colleagues in an open letter, urging Senate leadership to prioritize reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in the coming months. AGOA’s authorization expires in September 2025… Read More>>
The Swearing-In Ceremony and Inaugural Plenary Session Meeting of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States
U.S. Department of State
The President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE) will play an important role in enhancing dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora. The inaugural members, to whom Vice President Harris administered the oath of office today, have influenced U.S.-Africa relations through their careers in government, sports, creative industries, business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities and represent the diversity within the African Diaspora in the United States… Read More>>
Van Hollen, Rounds Kamlager-Dove, Kim Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Strengthen U.S.-Africa Ties
U.S. Department of State
The President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE) will play an important role in enhancing dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora. The inaugural members, to whom Vice President Harris administered the oath of office today, have influenced U.S.-Africa relations through their careers in government, sports, creative industries, business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities and represent the diversity within the African Diaspora in the United States… Read More>>
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of the Lobito Corridor and the Zambia Lobito-Rail Line
U.S. Department of State
The African Development Bank and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) join the United States and the European Union in support of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia to develop the Lobito Corridor and the new Zambia-Lobito rail line by signing a seven-side Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the margins of the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium… Read More>>
Secretary Blinken to Host Visit by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
U.S. Department of State
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will host African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and his delegation for the annual U.S.-African Union Commission High Level Dialogue in Washington on November 1-2… Read More>>
U.S.- Morocco Africa Working Group
U.S. Department of State
The Department of State hosted the U.S.-Morocco Africa Working Group in Washington yesterday, chaired by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jonathan Pratt, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joshua Harris, and Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Ambassador Fouad Yazourh. Ambassador Yazourh led a delegation of senior officials from the Moroccan ministries of foreign affairs, defense, interior, security, investments, and the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation… Read More>>
ENERGY
McKinsey reports on Africa’s role in the energy transition
Energy Digital
The increase in wind, hydro & especially solar energy in Africa poses significant investment opportunities in renewable energy development, says McKinsey… Read More>>
South Africa’s Eskom to significantly narrow loss next year – CEO
Reuters
South African state power utility Eskom forecast a significant narrowing of its net losses in the financial year to March 2025 on Tuesday, but after only a marginal drop for this year… Read More>>
HEALTH
Africa’s Complicated Path to Global Health Equity
Health Policy Watch
The global health landscape is marked by paradoxes. The last several decades have been shaped by progress and setbacks – new medicines and emerging diseases, technological advancements and entrenched inequities… Read More>>
Diabetes is South Africa’s second biggest killer disease: hiking the sugar tax would help
The Conversation
Death rates in South Africa have declined slightly during the past few years. But the country faces a steady rise in both death and disability caused by increases in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer… Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Africa’s fashion industry is growing to meet global demands: UNESCO
ABC News
Africa’s fashion industry is growing rapidly to meet local and international demand but inadequate investment limits its potential, UNESCO said Thursday in a report released during Lagos Fashion Week… Read More>>
Namibia’s battery metal ambitions rest on infrastructure, miners say
Reuters
Namibia’s ambitions to become a manufacturing hub for battery metals key to the global transition to clean energy will require huge investments in infrastructure to support processing facilities, mining executives said on Wednesday. The southern African country has significant deposits of lithium, vital for renewable energy storage, as well as rare earth minerals needed for permanent magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines… Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Do not overlook Africa’s trillion-dollar food and agribusiness sector, African Development Bank chief tells investors at World Food Prize
African Development Bank Group
Africa’s food and agribusiness will be worth an estimated US$1 trillion by 2030, African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina told participants of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue(link is external) in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday… Read More>>
Feeding the Nigerian diaspora: A prime agribusiness opportunity
How we made it in Africa
The US is the world’s biggest consumer market, estimated at $16 trillion. On the other hand, Nigeria, despite being home to over 220 million people and one of Africa’s largest consumer hubs, is projected to achieve a market value of only $3 trillion by 2030. This disparity highlights why, for many businesses in Nigeria’s food and agriculture sector, the US could be an enticing target… Read More>>
ICT
African Development Bank launches capacity building initiative to enhance trade in East Africa
African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank is partnering with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to launch a capacity development project to enhance trade in East Africa… Read More>>
Global Policy House Recruiting
Global Policy House
Join Michelle Chivunga and Global Policy House as Deputy Chief Executive Officer… Read More>>
FINANCE
South Africa’s rand strengthens ahead of mid-term budget
Reuters
The South African rand rose on Monday at the start of a data-heavy week that includes the government’s midterm budget statement. At 1505 GMT, the rand traded at 18.8000 against the dollar, more than 0.3% stronger than its previous close… Read More>>
